Roll lifting device for cloth laying machines



March 24, 1970 EA. s'coRDA'ro 3,502,320

ROLL LIFTING DEVICE FOR CLOTH LAYING MACHINES Filed Sept. 29, 1967 3 Sheets-Shem 1 March 24, 1970 E. Ls'coRDA'ro 3, ROLL LIFTING DEVICE FOR CLOTH LAYING MACHINES Filed Sept. 29, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 24, 1970 I ROLL LIFTING DEVICE FOR CLOTH LAYING MACHINES Filed Sept. 29, 1967 E. A; SCORDATO 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 MOTOR STARTER /---/7-'- I I QMECHANICAL l NTEPLOCK F I: 2:: =2: j

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I! 115v AC 60- United States Patent US. Cl. 270-31 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A table-mounted cloth roll lifting device adapted to elevate individual cloth rolls from the surface 'of a table to enable the same to be mechanically positioned upon a cloth laying carriage, including adjustable limit switch means for arresting the descent of a cloth roll at a point which permits transfer to said carriage when required.

This invention relates generally to the field of powered lifting devices for cloth laying machines enabling the rapid positioning of cloth rolls upon a cloth laying carriage for subsequent laying upon the surface of a cloth laying table. While in relatively small machines, this positioning may be conveniently accomplished manually, in recent years, the size of such cloth rolls has grown, in many cases, to a degree wherein the roll can no longer be conveniently handled by even two workmen at levels sub s'tantially above the surface of the cloth laying table.

In co-pending application for Letters Patent, Ser. No. 602,094, filed Dec. 15, 1966, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, there is disclosed a means for mechanically elevating a'roll of cloth to position for engagement with load-bearing means on the cloth laying carriage. This structure is incorporated directly into the carriage, so that a spare roll travels with the carriage while another roll provides the web being dispensed upon the table. However, such structure is not suitable for use in conjunction with already existing carriage structures manufactured without such provision, although adapted to handle relatively heavy cloth rolls.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved roll lifting device adapted to be mounted upon the cloth laying table in such position as to conveniently lift a cloth roll from the surface thereof to a position wherein it may be conveniently loaded upon a cloth laying carriage.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of structure of the above described class which may be conveniently installed upon existing cloth laying tables with a minimum of modification thereto.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an .improved roll lifting structure possessed of the above advantages, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of cloth roll lifting structure of the class described which in no way interferes with movement of the cloth laying carriage over the surface of the table to any position thereon.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the provision of automatic switch means which arrests downward movement of the cloth roll when it has reached a position for engagement with the carriage when the same is positioned therebeneath.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

' 3,502,320 Patented Mar. 24, 1970 "ice In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation, partly broken away to show detail, of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view, corresponding to the central portion of FIGURE 1, but showing an altered relative position of certain of the component parts.

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation corresponding to the upper most portion of FIGURE 1, and showing the side opposite that seen thereon.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the upper portion of a frame element which comprises a part of the embodiment.

FIGURE 5 is a view in elevation showing details of one of the limit switches forming a part of the embodiment.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 6-6 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view in elevation showing the lower portion of the frame element.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 88 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is a schematic electrical wiring diagram.

In accordance with the invention, there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 in the drawing a conventional cloth laying table 10 supported by vertical legs 11 disposed beneath a horizontal surface '12 which supports a reciprocating cloth laying carriage '13 thereupon. As is well known in the art, the carriage '13 includes cloth roll supporting means 14, the details of which form no part of the present disclosure. The device, generally indicated by reference character 15 is adapted to be secured to the table 10, and comprises broadly: a frame element 16, cloth roll lifting means 17, and control means 18.

The frame element 16 includes first and second vertical frames 20 and 21 on either side of the surface 12. The frames are similar and symmetrical, each including a lower stabilizing member 22 connected by bracket means 23 to a horizontal reinforcing member 24 on the table 10. An upper vertical beam member 25 includes a lower end 26 which rests upon the surface 12 as well as an upper end 27 which support between the frames 20-21 a horizontal frame member 28 (see FIGURE 4).

The lifting means 17 includes an electric motor 35, interconnected through a gear reduction means 36 to a motion output shaft 37 (see FIGURES 7 and 8). The shaft 37 is connected through a spline 38 to a driven shaft 39 supported on bearings 40 for rotation about a horizontal axis. The inner end 41 of the shaft 39 mounts a sprocket 42 about which a sprocket chain 43 is entrained. The chain 43 drives an upper sprocket 44 (FIGURE 4) on a horizontal shaft 45, the ends, one of which is indicated by reference character 46 rotate in bearings, one of which is indicated by reference character 47 on the upper ends 27 of the frames 20 and 21. The shaft drives a corresponding sprocket (not shown) on the frame 21, which in turn drives a corresponding chain 48 (FIG- URE 1). Each of the frames 20 and 21 includes a vertical guide-way 49 accommodating a corresponding sliding member 50 having a chain engaging portion 51 thereon. The members 50 also support cloth roll supporting arms 52 and 53 spaced apart a distance to engage the cloth roll spindle 54 which penetrates the cloth roll 55 to support the same for rotation, as is known in the art.

The control means 18 is schematically illustrated in FIGURE 9 in the drawings, wherein a source of 115 volt, cycle alternating current 58 is connected through a main power switch 59 of double pole type. Closing the switch illuminates a pilot light 60, and permits current to flow through a fuse 61 and a conductor 62 to a push button switch 53 which is closed when it is desired to lower the arms 51-52. Momentary contact of the push button 63 operates a holding contact 64, and permits current to flow through a load limit switch 65 (FIGURE a lower limit switch 66 (FIGURE 7) and a mechanical interlock 67 to a coil 66 on the motor 35. Current then flows through overload contacts 69 to a push button stop switch 70, and then to a return conductor 71.

Current also fiows through a conductor 72 to the armature winding 73 of the motor, which is provided with optional dynamic braking means 74.

A corresponding push button switch 75 is provided for upward movement of the arms 51-52, the same operating a holding contact 76. Current passes through an upper limit switch 77 (FIGURE 3) to a corresponding coil 78 on the motor 35.

Referring to FIGURE 5, the load limit switch 65 is operated by a rotating cam 80 on a shaft 81 mounted on the frame 20. A disc 82 is driven by the chain 43, and mounts a cam face member 83 adjustable by means of a set screw 84 within the limits of an arcuate slot 85, the outer surface 86 of which contacts a roller 87 on a tongue type follower 88.

OPERATION Assuming that operation of -the cloth laying machine has reached a point where a roll being dispensed has just become exhausted, the following sequence of operation is followed.

A fresh roll 55 of material is manually lifted to the surface 12 of the table 10, and rolled therealong to the area of the device 15.

Assuming the power switch 59 to be closed, the push button 63 is depressed to bring the arms 51-52 to their lowermost position, as determined by the opening of the limit switch 66. This switch is normally closed, and is opened by the presence of a cam 89 attached to the lower end of a sliding member 50. The roll 55, having been previously provided with a spindle 54 is then moved to a position wherein the ends of the spindle 54 overlie portions of the arms 51 and 52 (precise alignment is not necessary), following which the switch 75 is closed to commence raising of the sliding member 50, and the corresponding lifting of the roll as seen in FIGURE 1 in the drawings. This upward movement will continue until automatically discontinued by the opening of the limit switch 77 by contact of a cam 90 (FIGURE 3) therewith. During the time the lifting action is proceeding the carriage 13 may be moved to the position shown in FIGURE 1, wherein the same lies directly beneath the spindle re- 4. momentarily depressing switch 92 for a length of time sufficient to allow disengagement of the arms 51-52 after engagement with the carriage.

The carriage may then be moved along the table, as for a continuance of the cloth laying operation, and the button 63 again depressed to lower the arms 50-51 to a position where they may engage another roll (not shown) for a repetition of the above described operation.

' I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A cloth roll lifting device for use with a cloth laying machine having a cloth laying table and a carriage arranged for reciprocation thereover comprising: a vertically arranged frame element engageably supported by said table, a cloth roll lifting means including a pair of cloth roll supporting arms slidably mounted upon said frame element, electric motor means powering said lifttaining notches 91. In the event that the roll was not precisely positioned at the time it was lifted, the spindle will roll under the action of gravity to reach this position by the time the arms 50-51 have raised to a substantial degree. Once the carriage has been positioned as shown, upward movement of the roll may be halted by opening the switch 70 (if not already halted by the limit switch 77). The switch 63 is then closed, reversing the direction of rotation of the motor 35, and the roll then descends until the load limit switch 65 (FIGURE 5) is opened, at which point the roll is positioned just above the carriage. As in the case of relatively heavy loads requiring a relatively low gearing, the length of time required for the above operations is suflicient to allowthe workmen to manipulate another fresh cloth roll on to the end of the table, and the presence of the load limit switch 65 enables him to leave the device running without the necessity of watching the operation to stop the downward descent of the cloth roll at the desired point. The roll is then deposited upon the carriage 13 by bypassing the switch 65 by ing means for movement between upper and lower limits with respect to said frame element, upper and lower limit switch means determining said upper and lower limits, and adjustable cam operated switch means for interrupting the flow of current to said motor means at an adjustable predetermined point between said upper and lower limits.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, including means for manually overriding said last mentioned switch means.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 2, said last mentioned switch means being mounted on said frame element, and actuated by movement of said lifting means.

4. A cloth roll lifting device for use with a cloth laying machine having acloth laying table and a carriage arranged for reciprocation thereover comprising: a vertically arranged frame element engageably supported by said ta'ble, said frame element including first and second vertically arranged frame members and a transverse shaft interconnecting said members at upper ends thereof; a motor carried by one of said pair of frame members, a sprocket driven by said motor, a chain driven by said sprocket, said chain driving said'transverse shaft at one end thereof, said shaft having a second end and a sprocket thereon, a second chain entrained upon said sprocket, first and second sliding members arranged for movement respectively upon said first and second frame members, and connected to said first and second chains, and first and second cloth roll engaging means supported by said first and second sliding members, respectively; and load limit switch means for arresting downward movement of said sliding members at an adjustable predetermined point below said upper end of said frame members.

References Cited Blume et al. 187-17 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner P. v. WILLIAMS, Assistant Examiner Us. 01. X.R. 

